John Hubbard Beecher, also known as Little John Beecher (February 8, 1927 – August 6, 1987) was an American bandleader, jazz trumpeter and valve trombonist, and a singer of novelty songs. His band, Little John Beecher and his Orchestra, was active throughout the 1950s, and was booked by National Orchestra Service of Omaha, Nebraska. Before forming his own band, he played trumpet with Lee Williams.
Career Beecher founded and served as bandleader of Little John Beecher and His Orchestra throughout the 1950s. The orchestra was a nonet plus a featured vocalist territory band. Beecher was a large man, weighing 300 pounds in 1955. He promoted the catchphrase "THE BAND with the big front." Beecher booked his gigs through the National Orchestra Service ("NOS"), a territory band agency in Omaha, Nebraska. Royce Stoenner, who had been an executive at NOS, left the agency in 1959 to become a partner with the Dave Brumitt Agency, a territory band booking agency in Atlanta. Beecher followed Stoenner to Georgia and started working through his agency. Shortly thereafter in 1959, the band ended.
Jimmy Fuller founded The Cavaliers Orchestra in 1946 and served as bandleader until 1976. Having played trumpet with the Cavaliers since 1973, Beecher became its second bandleader in the spring of 1976. The band was based in Columbus, Georgia.
Former members of Beecher's Orchestra 1959–1960: Travis Wayne Jenkins, tenor sax (May 23, 1939 Hockley County, Texas – January 11, 2004 Bangkok, Thailand) 1950s: Betty Jordan, vocals Stewart "Dirk" Fischer Richard "Dick" Vaughn Busey, tenor sax (born 1931) Russ Long, piano (né Russell V. Longstreth March 9, 1939 – December 31, 2006) Robert Fisher Mel (Oscar) Ross, sax Carl Greene, horn Johnny Morre Larry Brown Robert Hampson, baritone sax 1954: Bill Porter, drums 1958 Don Farrar, Bass
See also List of jazz arrangers Territory bands
References "Annual Ball Wednesday," Aberdeen-American News, April 10, 1955, col. 3, pg. 8,
Obituary: "Travis Jenkins," The Kansas City Star January 21, 2004, pg. B3
Autobiography — "Profile: Travis Jenkins," Jam (magazine), published by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Inc., February 2000;
"A Biography of Russ Long," by Gary Don Sivils (1934– ), Jam (magazine), published by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Inc., October 2006;
"KC Jazz Legend Russ Long Feted at Workshop," by Chuck Berg, The Topeka Capital-Journal, January 16, 2011;
America's Music Makers: Big Bands & Ballrooms 1912–2011, by John Behrens, Authorhouse (2011), pps. 76–77;
"Merge Firms of NOS, MMS in Ork Field," Billboard, February 13, 1954, pg. 19
Nebraska History, by Evelyn Kay Dalstrom (born 1942) & Harl A. Dalstrom, PhD (born 1936), Nebraska State Historical Society, Vol. 65 (1984), pps. 366–386;